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The Engineer
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A Quantum Calculator

02/08/2006 6:57 PM

Scientists believe a Bose-Einstein condensate can be used to calculate the roots of random polynomials. Basically, when a Bose-Einstein condensate is spun, vortices are formed where the wavefuntion goes to zero. The locations of these vortices can be described by roots of a random polynomial. The idea is, by controlling the type of Bose-Einstein condsensate and controlling the rate of rotation, you are basically setting the parameters of a random polynomial. The vortices that emerge are the roots of the random polynomial. The condensate calculates the roots.

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#1

Hitchhiker's Guide

02/09/2006 8:17 AM

This sounds like a line out of Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" proof of the non-existence of God. God speaks, "Without faith I am nothing." "Ah, but the spinning Bose-Einstein condensate described roots of a random polynomial is dead giveaway", says man. "It proves you exist!" "Oh", says God, "I hadn't thought of that." And promptly vanishes in a puff of logic… All we are waiting for now is to prove black equals white…

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The Engineer
Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Physics... United States - Member - NY Popular Science - Genetics - Organic Chemistry... Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member Ingeniería en Español - Nuevo Miembro - New Member

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#2
In reply to #1

Re:Hitchhiker's Guide

02/11/2006 2:31 PM

Although it may sound exotic, I don't think it's that surprising. I imagine a future with many different types of computational techniques. Specialized computers for specific classes of problems. After all, we are comfortable now using many different kinds of math to calculate the same thing, like matrices, differential equations, and good old algebra, not to mention different coordinate systems, Cartesian, Spherical, Cylindrical, etc.

As for math or science proving the existence of God, or not, lets not get ahead of ourselves, I'll be impressed if we can figure out how to make 50% efficient solar cells in the next 25 years.

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